●○ INITIAL CALL

Question: How do we know that our suffering is not punishment from God?

Scripture: Jas 1:13

Link: Why do we suffer?

○● RETURN VISIT

Question: Why do we suffer?

Scripture: 1Jo 5:19

Link: How does God feel about our suffering?

• Song 150 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (1 min.)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “Now You Will See What I Will Do to Pharaoh”: (10 min.)

  • Ex 6:1​—Moses would witness Jehovah’s “mighty hand”

  • Ex 6:6, 7​—Israel would be rescued (it-2 436 ¶3)

  • Ex 7:4, 5​—Pharaoh and the Egyptians would come to know who Jehovah is (it-2 436 ¶1-2)

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (10 min.)

  • Ex 6:3​—In what sense did Jehovah not make his name known to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? (it-1 78 ¶3-4)

  • Ex 7:1​—How was Moses “like God” to Pharaoh, and how did Aaron become Moses’ “prophet”? (it-2 435 ¶5)

  • What spiritual gems from this week’s Bible reading would you like to share regarding Jehovah God, the field ministry, or something else?

• Bible Reading: (4 min. or less) Ex 6:1-15 (th study 10)

APPLY YOURSELF TO THE FIELD MINISTRY

• Apply Yourself to Reading and Teaching: (10 min.) Discussion. Play the video Effort to Reach the Heart, and then discuss study 19 of the Teaching brochure.

• Talk: (5 min. or less) w15 1/15 9 ¶6-7​—Theme: Give Thanks to Jehovah Every Day. (th study 19)

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 45

• Local Needs: (15 min.)

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) jy chap. 122

• Concluding Comments (3 min. or less)

• Song 42 and Prayer

6:1, 6, 7; 7:4, 5

Before bringing the plagues on Egypt and delivering the Israelites from slavery, Jehovah told the Israelites what he was about to do. They would see Jehovah’s power demonstrated in ways that they had not previously witnessed, and the Egyptians would certainly know who Jehovah is. When God’s promises came true, the faith of the Israelites was strengthened, and this helped to counteract the false religious influences they had been exposed to in Egypt.

How does this Bible account strengthen your faith that God’s promises for the future will be fulfilled?

• Song 12 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (1 min.)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “Proud Pharaoh Unwittingly Serves God’s Purpose”: (10 min.)

  • Ex 8:15​—Pharaoh hardened his heart and refused to listen to Moses and Aaron (it-2 1040-1041)

  • Ex 8:18, 19​—Pharaoh did not give in even when his own magic-practicing priests acknowledged defeat

  • Ex 9:15-17​—Jehovah magnified his own name by keeping Pharaoh in existence (it-2 1181 ¶3-5)

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (10 min.)

  • Ex 8:21​—What was the gadfly? (it-1 878)

  • Ex 8:25-27​—Why did Moses say that Israel’s sacrifices would be “detestable to the Egyptians”? (w04 3/15 25 ¶9)

  • What spiritual gems from this week’s Bible reading would you like to share regarding Jehovah God, the field ministry, or something else?

• Bible Reading: (4 min. or less) Ex 8:1-19 (th study 12)

APPLY YOURSELF TO THE FIELD MINISTRY

• Initial Call Video: (4 min.) Discussion. Play the video, and then ask the following questions: How did the publisher respond to the householder’s objection? How might the publisher have introduced a publication from the Teaching Toolbox?

• Initial Call: (2 min. or less) Use the sample conversation. (th study 6)

• Initial Call: (3 min. or less) Begin with the sample conversation. Respond to a common objection. (th study 3)

• Initial Call: (3 min. or less) Begin with the sample conversation. Offer a study publication. (th study 12)

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 74

• “Be Humble​—Avoid Self-Praise”: (7 min.) Discussion. Play the video Become Jehovah’s Friend​—Be Humble. Afterward, invite selected young children, if available, to the stage, and ask them the questions about the video.

• “Be Humble When Praised by Others”: (8 min.) Discussion. Play the video Be Loyal, as Jesus Was​—When Praised.

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) jy chap. 123, box “His Sweat Is as Drops of Blood”

• Concluding Comments (3 min. or less)

• Song 44 and Prayer

8:15, 18, 19; 9:15-17

Egyptian pharaohs viewed themselves as gods. This helps us understand why Pharaoh was too proud to listen to Moses and Aaron and even to his own magic-practicing priests.

Do you listen when others make suggestions? Do you appreciate it when someone counsels you? Or do you feel that you are always right? “Pride is before a crash.” (Pr 16:18) How important it is to guard against pride!

Self-praise and bragging give evidence of pride and are not upbuilding to those listening. Therefore, the Bible says: “Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth.”​—Pr 27:2.

WATCH THE VIDEO BECOME JEHOVAH’S FRIEND​—BE HUMBLE, AND THEN ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

• What are some common things that people brag about?

• What was Caleb bragging about to his friend?

• How did Caleb’s father reason with him?

• How can 1 Peter 5:5 help us to be humble?

At times, others may praise, or commend, us. This can be encouraging to us if it is given sincerely and with proper motive. (Pr 15:23; 31:10, 28) But we must be careful that it does not cause us to develop feelings of superiority and pride.

WATCH THE VIDEO BE LOYAL, AS JESUS WAS​—WHEN PRAISED, AND THEN ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

• What are some things that we may be praised for?

• How did the brothers praise Sergei?

• How did their praise go beyond what was appropriate?

• What lessons do you learn from the humble way that Sergei responded?

• Song 65 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (1 min.)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “Moses and Aaron Demonstrate Great Courage”: (10 min.)

  • Ex 10:3-6​—Moses and Aaron boldly announced the eighth plague to Pharaoh (w09 7/15 20 ¶6)

  • Ex 10:24-26​—Moses and Aaron did not give in to pressure from Pharaoh to compromise

  • Ex 10:28; 11:4-8​—Moses and Aaron fearlessly announced the tenth plague (it-2 436 ¶4)

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (10 min.)

  • Ex 10:1, 2​—What lesson can parents take from these verses? (w95 9/1 11 ¶11)

  • Ex 11:7​—What did Jehovah mean when he said that “not even a dog will bark at the Israelites”? (it-1 783 ¶5)

  • What spiritual gems from this week’s Bible reading would you like to share regarding Jehovah God, the field ministry, or something else?

• Bible Reading: (4 min. or less) Ex 10:1-15 (th study 10)

APPLY YOURSELF TO THE FIELD MINISTRY

• Return Visit Video: (5 min.) Discussion. Play the video. Then ask the following questions: What did you learn from the way the publisher reasoned with the householder? How might the publisher have introduced a publication from the Teaching Toolbox?

• Return Visit: (4 min. or less) Begin with the sample conversation. Invite the householder to the meeting. (th study 8)

• Return Visit: (4 min. or less) Begin with the sample conversation. Then offer a publication from the Teaching Toolbox. (th study 12)

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 55

• “What Does Creation Teach Us About Courage?”: (15 min.) Discussion. Play the video Learn Courage From Creation.

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) jy chap. 124

• Concluding Comments (3 min. or less)

• Song 113 and Prayer

10:3-6, 24-26, 28; 11:4-8

Moses and Aaron demonstrated great courage and boldness when speaking to Pharaoh, the most powerful man in the world at that time. What enabled them to do it? Regarding Moses, the Bible says: “By faith he left Egypt, but not fearing the anger of the king, for he continued steadfast as seeing the One who is invisible.” (Heb 11:27) Moses and Aaron had strong faith in Jehovah and relied on him.

What situations require courage to express your faith to someone in authority?

Jehovah teaches us how to display godly qualities by means of men and women in the Bible. However, his creation also provides us with important lessons. (Job 12:7, 8) What can we learn about courage from the lion, the horse, the mongoose, the hummingbird, and the elephant?

WATCH THE VIDEO LEARN COURAGE FROM CREATION, AND THEN ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

• 

  How do female lions display courage when protecting their cubs?

• 

  How are horses trained to be courageous in battle?

• 

  Why is the mongoose not afraid of venomous snakes?

• 

  How do tiny hummingbirds show courage?

• 

  How do elephants courageously come to the defense of other elephants in the herd?

• What do these animals teach you about courage?

• Song 20 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (1 min.)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “The Passover​—Its Significance for Christians”: (10 min.)

  • Ex 12:5-7​—The significance of the Passover lamb (w07 1/1 20 ¶4)

  • Ex 12:12, 13​—The significance of the blood on the doorposts (it-2 583 ¶6)

  • Ex 12:24-27​—A practical lesson taught by the Passover (w13 12/15 20 ¶13-14)

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (10 min.)

  • Ex 12:12​—How were the plagues on the Egyptians, especially the tenth one, a judgment against their false gods? (it-2 582 ¶2)

  • Ex 12:14-16​—The Festival of Unfermented Cakes, as with other holy conventions, had what unique feature, and how did it benefit the Israelites? (it-1 504 ¶1)

  • What spiritual gems from this week’s Bible reading would you like to share regarding Jehovah God, the field ministry, or something else?

• Bible Reading: (4 min. or less) Ex 12:1-20 (th study 5)

APPLY YOURSELF TO THE FIELD MINISTRY

• Initial Call: (3 min. or less) Begin with the sample conversation. Respond to an objection common in your territory. (th study 2)

• Return Visit: (4 min. or less) Begin with the sample conversation. Then offer a recent magazine on the subject that was discussed. (th study 6)

• Bible Study: (5 min. or less) bhs 16 ¶21-22 (th study 19)

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 38

• “Jehovah Protects His People”: (15 min.) Discussion. Play the video Warwick Museum Tours: “A People for Jehovah’s Name.”

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) jy chap. 125

• Concluding Comments (3 min. or less)

• Song 129 and Prayer

12:5-7, 12, 13, 24-27

In order for the Israelites to avoid being harmed by the tenth plague, it was vital for them to obey instructions. (Ex 12:28) On the night of Nisan 14, families were to assemble in their own home. They were to kill a sound one-year-old male lamb or goat. Its blood was to be sprinkled on the doorposts and on the upper part of the doorway. Then they were to roast the entire animal and eat it in a hurry. No one was to go out of the house until morning.​—Ex 12:9-11, 22.

What are some specific ways that obedience protects us today?

The first Passover was a momentous event. On that night, after Pharaoh discovered that his firstborn was dead, he told Moses: “Get up, get out from among my people, both you and the other Israelites. Go and serve Jehovah, just as you have said.” (Ex 12:31) Jehovah had demonstrated that he protects his people.

As we look back on the modern-day history of Jehovah’s people, there is clear evidence that Jehovah continues to guide and protect them. This is highlighted in a museum at world headquarters entitled “A People for Jehovah’s Name.”

WATCH THE VIDEO WARWICK MUSEUM TOURS: “A PEOPLE FOR JEHOVAH’S NAME,” AND THEN ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

• 

  What innovative tool did the Bible Students use beginning in 1914 to build faith in the Bible, and how successful was it?

• 

  What tests occurred in 1916 and 1918, and what evidence was there that Jehovah was directing the organization?

• 

  How have Jehovah’s people stood firm for their faith despite opposition?

• 

  What new understanding did Jehovah’s people receive in 1935, and how did this affect them?

• If you have toured this museum, what did you see that built your faith that Jehovah is guiding and protecting his people?